Jordan Wright
February 28, 2012
Special to The Alexandria Times
John Shackelford (Max Levene), Brandon DeGroat (Joe Pendleton) and Cal Whitehurst (Mr. Jordan) - photo credit Doug Olmsted
The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s production of Harry Segall’s stageplay, Heaven Can Wait, got off to a rocky start last night when the play’s Co-Producer and Assistant Director, Mary Ayala-Bush, had to jump into the part of Messenger 7013. Unfortunately she had gotten the part at 2 PM that same afternoon and, truth be told, she was reading lines off a clipboard and adlibbing the rest. No matter, she’s a pro, and by the time you read this she’ll have it down pat, but it was touch and go on opening night.
But even a cast glitch could not have gotten in the way of this lively production, enhanced mightily by the superb portrayal of boxer Joe Pendleton, by Brandon DeGroat, who in real life is a pro wrestler, movie actor and professional stuntman. DeGroat proves that he can handle the topsy-turvy role with more than just swarthy matinee idol looks. Throughout his performance he wows the audience with his talent for boxing feints, jumping rope double time, sofa vaults and stage-shaking pratfalls.
Historically the play found film incarnation with Here Comes Mr. Jordan starring Robert Montgomery and Claude Rains. Later it emerged as Oscar-winning film, Heaven Can Wait, starring Warren Beatty as football hero, and more recently as Down to Earth with Chris Rock as a comedian. No stretch there.
Colin Davies (Doctor), Brandon DeGroat (Joe Pendleton), Geoffrey Baskir (Passenger), Michael Gerwin (Williams), Geoffrey Brand (Lefty), and John Shackelford (Max Levene) - photo credit Doug Olmsted
In this version Joe is a boxer and erstwhile fighter pilot taken for dead by an over-zealous angel. When the mix up is discovered at the Pearly Gates, the celestial doorman Mr. Jordan, elegantly played by Cal Whitehurst, promises Joe he has another 60 years to go before his number is up. “I could put you in the body of a gnat”, Jordan asserts, and the two go off in search of an appropriately athletic body for Joe to continue his blossoming career. But before he can locate the perfect athletic specimen Joe must first assume the body of murdered millionaire investor, Leo Farnsworth, and it is as Farnsworth that Joe meets the love of his life, Bette Logan (Melissa Berkowitz).
The play begins to breath fire when Joe, as Farnsworth, reunites with agent Max Levene (John Shackelford) to reschedule the pivotal fight that will place him in the pantheon of the world’s greatest boxers. But first he has to convince Max that he is indeed the same Joe…albeit in a millionaire’s body.
John Shackelford (Max Levene), Brandon DeGroat (Joe Pendleton) - photo credit Doug Olmsted
Shackelford and DeGroat are electrifying when they share the stage – which thankfully is the heart and soul of this production. I can’t say enough about Shackelford’s beguiling brilliance in the role of Max, the agent who has one eye fixed firmly on his client’s newly acquired wealth and the other on his old buddy’s success. He’s got a keen sense of timing coupled with a canny ability to seamlessly morph his character from naive to crafty. His performance is nothing less than riveting.
If you’re up for a comedy rolled into a drama and wrapped in a love story, catch this one soon.
Through March 17th at The Little Theatre of Alexandria 600 Wolfe Street. For tickets and information call the box office at 703 683-0496 or visit www.thelittletheatre.com
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